“That’s really hard, that one, because the two of them are playing unbelievable at the minute,” said Lambert.

“Brad has been excellent in the league and Shay has been different class in the cup. Would I swap them for any others in the Premier League? Not the way they are. This club is really fortunate to have two world-class goalkeepers.”

Lambert is pleased with Given’s maturity since losing his Premier League place to Guzan in September having started the season as Villa’s No.1.

“There’s been no problems with Shay at all,” he said. “He’s a fantastic pro. You can see why he’s been a top goalkeeper.

“I left him out against Newcastle and it was a really tough decision. Goalkeeping’s a specialist position as well but I just thought it might have been the right thing to do at that time.

“It was a big call because you’re telling someone who’s got 100 caps for Ireland that, after a couple of games, he’s not going to play. But we spoke and there was no big thing.

“The highest compliment I can pay him is that he’s been brilliant. I know that sounds strange when he’s only played in the cups but he has been fantastic.”

Lambert also praised Guzan’s commitment to Villa, suggesting the keeper paid for his flight over from America when the free agent was offered the chance to re-sign in the summer.

“Brad had left the club and I never knew what had happened,” he added. “I just spoke to him and said ‘give it one more go’. I never made promises except that I’d be fair and he trusted me.

“I asked the goalkeeping coach, Terry Gennoe, what the situation was and he said Brad had left but the door was still kind of open. To be fair, Brad flew back from America for a chat and then flew back.

“It shows you the commitment. I’d be surprised if he paid for his own flight because he is as tight as anything! No, I think he did actually. I’m sure he did.”